The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to enforce the judgment of the Court of Appeal that returned 16 members of the party as elected members of the Plateau State House of Assembly.
The APC NWC, which made the call on Wednesday after its meeting in Abuja, also accused the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang of backing the Speaker in his bid to delay the swearing-in of the lawmakers.
It threatened legal action against the governor and Speaker for disobeying the judgment of the Court of Appeal that the 16 members were duly elected by their constituents.
The Speaker, Gabriel Dewan has hinged his refusal to inaugurate the 16 lawmakers on the judgement of the Supreme Court, which faulted the judgement of the Court of Appeal that sacked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers based on the porous structure of PDP.
The apex court, in its ruling on last year’s governorship election, declared that the issue of party structure was an internal affair of PDP that should not have been entertained by the Court of Appeal.
Though the 16 PDP lawmakers have approached the Court of Appeal for a review of its judgement, the court dismissed their request.
With Speaker Dewan's refusal to inaugurate the 16 APC members to take their seats, the Plateau State House of Assembly is now made up of eight members, leaving other constituencies with no representation.
The National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the APC, Isaacs Kekemeke, while briefing journalists after the NWC meeting, said the 16 lawmakers were running out of patience, warning that illegality can no longer be condoned.
He also said that the party will not allow the legislative rascality of the Speaker to go unchallenged, adding that “enough is enough”, and that the APC will ensure the enforcement of the decision of the Court of Appeal.
He said: “The Court of Appeal has affirmed its decision to sanction the illegality of the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, PDP and the Governor for attempting to review that decision.
“It is sad that the Governor of Plateau, who is enjoying his office by the constitution of this country in an election, will want to deny 16 members of the fruit of their electoral work and to deny our party the success that they won for the people. This is a disgrace to democracy and its unacceptable behaviour.
“The National Working Committee expresses its outrage and displeasure over this continued illegality and this unacceptable arbitrage by the Governor of Plateau State, the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and by the PDP in Plateau State.”
He called on the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspection General of Police and other law enforcement agencies to enforce the final decision of the Court of Appeal, being the final adjudicating court on the House of Assembly poll.
Kekemeke stressed: “The last court is the Court of Appeal that has spoken and spoken again and yet, PDP, the governor of Plateau and the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly shamelessly continue to disobey the law of the land.
“The patience of the APC is running out. But because the APC is a peaceful party, it is calling on the law enforcement agencies to do the needful now and not tomorrow.”
Allnews.ng reports that the Plateau State Government has raised the alarm about plans by unnamed persons to forcefully break into the House of Assembly chamber to swear in the 16 lawmakers.
This was as the Police, on Tuesday, averted a clash between supporters of the APC and those of the 16 displaced PDP lawmakers at the premises of the House of Assembly.
The APC supporters were later dispersed by the police, who later condoned off the Assembly to prevent the rival supporters from gaining access to the premises.
Police spokesman Alabo Alfred said security was beefed up to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the state.
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